Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: muts@fysak.fys.ruu.nl (Peter Mutsaers) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Campus Crusade (and intervasity) Message-ID: Date: 26 May 91 06:10:26 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Physics Department, University of Utrecht Lines: 28 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu As a current member of a (european) intervarsity group I have to disagree with the view given in this article. We are not a cult at all; our group is no replacement for the church and people come from a wide range of churches. We do not engage in all activities that are part of the christian life such as the social action you mentioned. That is not because we think it is not necessary, but because as a student group we see our specific goal as group to spread the gospel among students; among those who don't know it yet (evangelism) and among those who already do (bible study for spiritual growth). I do not think that any christian organization has to have *all* characteristics of christian life, but can concentrate on a few because we think there is a task for us here that is not done by the churches. By the way, when you talk about a 'narrow personalized' reading of the bible: it is always important to find a balance between applying the promises from the bible to yourself personally and having a personal relationship with God, and to see the wider meaning in the world and society. Different christians may differ about where this balance lies. Personally I think when the faith loses its personal relationship with Jesus, all good works are fine, but the essence is gone. On the other hand, faith without works is dead. But at Ichthus (name of our IV group) we concentrate on the first, whereas members often are involved in other groups too that -- Peter Mutsaers email: muts@fys.ruu.nl Rijksuniversiteit Utrecht muts@fysak.fys.ruu.nl Princetonplein 5 tel: (+31)-(0)30-533880 3584 CG Utrecht, Netherlands